Tasmanian Government urged to keen an open mind on medicinal marijuana proposal

Most Tasmanian MPs support conducting a pharmaceutical marijuana trial.Source: AP

THE State Government has been urged to keep an open mind and listen to what the community says through a Legislative Council committee’s inquiry into legalising cannabis for medicinal purposes in Tasmania.

A survey of Tasmania’s MLCs shows most favour conducting a trial, and perhaps growing a pharmaceutical marijuana crop in Tasmania. But that support is hedged by a desire to learn about the issue.

In the background farmers say they are keen to prove they can be global leaders in growing another pharmaceutical crop and a rally is being organ­ised for September to give the public a chance to show they support a new approach.

“When I have discussed the issue with friends and acquaintances, the view is pretty much the same: Why wouldn’t you allow the use of cannabis for medical use when the evidence appears to indicate that using the product in this way could help people suffering with identified conditions,” she said.

Mersey MLC Mike Gaffney is on the six-member committee that will examine the issue, gauge community opinion and then hand its findings and recommendations to the government next year.

“I encourage the Minister and the Government to keep an open mind, respecting the outcomes of this important opportunity for direct community consultation,” he said.

Some members were loath to express their personal stance on the debate at the start of a live inquiry, but all supported the move to examine the issue in-depth.

Others, such as Windemere MLC Ivan Dean, a former pol­iceman, were more forthright, saying a small island state like Tasmania was the best setting to carry out a trial that included effective security and medical involvement.

He also questioned why the Hodgman Government had been so quick to rule it out – ­regardless of what the inquiry finds and recommends.

“I would never support smoking cannabis, but taken in capsule form or similar and on prescription, what is there to lose?” he said.

Independent member for Rumney Tony Mulder said he supported the use of cannabis to relieve pain in principle, but it was a “highly qualified” yes.

“Is this a recognised med­icine or another in a litany of herbal, sometimes illegal, panacea without scientific basis?” he said.

Labor Derwent MLC Craig Farell said there appeared to be widespread community support for a trial of medicinal cannabis in Tasmania and media reports had highlighted cases where people had been helped by the drug.

“If doctors can safely be provided with access to a drug that can bring pain relief and ease suffering for patients, then I am supportive of that. This is also Labor’s position,” he said.

Rosevears MLC Kerry Finch said he wanted to be told the facts before he made a decision on a trial planting or its use and Western Teirs MLC Greg Hall said he was also keeping an open mind.

“Cannabis could prove useful for targeted pain relief, but it needs to be backed by trials and evidence,” Mr Hall said.

He said any crops grown for medicinal purposes would need to be in high-security areas and small scale.

Hobart MLC Rob Valentine said he could not see any reason to reject the use of med­icinal cannabis based on what he had learned through community debate so far and he was keen to see what the committee recommended.

Liberal Montgomery MLC Leonie Hiscutt, who is on the committee, said she was keen to learn more and hoped the inquiry’s findings would help inform the government’s view.

Earlier this week Premier Will Hodgman said the Legislative Council had every right to hold an inquiry, but the government was sticking by its ­decision not to hold a trial.

Leader of the Government in the Upper House Vanessa Goodwin supported her party’s stance.

“We are taking a prudent approach. There are a number of unanswered questions and risks and we don’t believe the case for this trial has been made out,” she said.

“We welcome the chance for the Legislative Council to look into the issue.”

The idea for an inquiry was proposed by Ruth Forrest, the independent Member for Murchison, following the government’s rejection of a proposal from Tasman Health Cannabinoids to trial the growth, processing and administration of medicinal cannabis in conjunction with the University of Tasmania.

Comments on this story

Paul Meahan of Glenorchy Posted at 10:05 PM July 13, 2014

I have no faith in the Tasmanian Governments ability to act responsibly and objectively in this matter. Mr Hodgeman and Groom are following orders from someone who believes he is following orders from above. Cannabis as a source of pain relief for the terminally ill? Not in this lifetime!

Leonard Colquhoun of Launceston Posted at 11:05 AM July 13, 2014

Whatever the views on this proposal, there seems to be no obvious ('obvious' to the general public, that is) constitutional hindrance to a State acting alone on this matter. Health^ is not listed in our constitution's "Part V: Powers of the [Commonwealth] Parliament, section 51 (i) to (xxxix)", meaning that it is a State area of responsibility; looks as if the only relevant item would be "(xxviii) - The influx of criminals". (^ Nor is Education mentioned, so is it time to abolish those federal departments, stop the doubling-up & blame-gaming, and concentrate on making the States more responsible for these core matters?)

Randy Marsh of Montagu Bay Posted at 7:15 PM July 12, 2014

I agree with Terry James. The sooner this becomes an accepted medicine the better...now, where did I put my wheel barrow?